Vitality Backs Rugby Union On Sky Sports
Vitality has signed a new deal to sponsor Sky Sports’ rugby union coverage for the 2014/15 season.
The healthy living rewards programme from PruHealth and PruProtect joins the broadcaster ahead of the kick off of the European Rugby Champions Cup tonight, with Sky Sports coverage starting with Saturday’s clash between Sale and Munster at 1pm. Vitality ambassador Jonny Wilkinson will also make his debut in the Sky Sports studio for the same game.
Vitality will also back Sky Sports’ rugby coverage of the Guinness PRO12, Top 14, Ireland, France and Italy Autumn Internationals and the IRB World Sevens Series, as well as repeats, highlights and magazine programming such as The Rugby Club and School of Hard Knocks.
In addition, Vitality will receive branding across the Rugby Union section of skysports.com, the Sky Sports Mobile App and on Sky Go.
David Shore, Sky Media’s head of new business, said of the deal: ‘We’re delighted to have Vitality on board as a sponsor of Sky’s Rugby Union coverage, they are a perfect fit. They recognise the importance of sport and having Jonny Wilkinson as their ambassador shows how key Rugby Union is for them. The broadcast sponsorship will enable Vitality to reinforce its partnership with viewers at home and on the move.’
Neville Koopowitz, CEO, Vitality for PruHealth and PruProtect said: ‘This partnership with Sky Sports, as the home of televised rugby union, is an extremely important sponsorship for us and our Vitality programme. We believe in the power of sport to help inspire people to live healthy, active lives and we’re delighted to be working with a brand like Sky to help achieve our goal of changing the game when it comes to people’s health.’
The deal will begin on the week of Sky Sports’ European rugby coverage with the winners of last season’s Heineken Cup, Amlin Challenge Cup, Top 14, PRO12 and Aviva Premiership all featuring live during the first two Rounds.
